Bewitched (Snow White with the Red Hair Fanfic)

45.Wonder

The iron door creaked open as Lera was dragged out of her cell. She had no idea what was about to happen to her.

In her mind was the flaming hell of being burnt alive at the stake.

She was still so weak, so frail. And she could do nothing as the guards took her away like a sack of potatoes.

She wondered what would happen to her. She wondered what would happen to Izana if she was gone. She wondered. She could only wonder.

Her questions and whines of pain went unnoticed by all. In her weakest moment, she wasn't allowed to see any of who could help her.

After a few turns, she was brought onto a horse carriage outlined with wooden bars. She was pushed into the carriage.

With no idea what was about to happen to her.

As the carriage took off, she realised she was headed to the opposite direction from the capital. "Um..." she asked the guard steering the carriage.

"Where are you taking me?"

From afar, Izana could only watch and wonder. Wonder of a future where he could spend with his beloved. Wonder of a life where he wasn't tied by his own duties.

Now, as Lera was taken away to the country of Tanbarun so she could escape her terrible fate of being burnt at the stake, he watched from the window of his study.

In contrast to his strong emotional control and calm thinking, Izana shed a tear. A single tear in which he regretted not being able to keep Lera close to him like he had promised her.

♢♢♢

Zen's P.O.V

"Brother is going to marry Anri!? But what about Lera!!?" I yelled. It was just me questioning myself of all the bizarre things that was currently happening.

Lera being taken behind bars was the worst outcome ever. I mean, they were accusing her of actions that she merely had to respond to.

She was nice with her response towards my confession. And she was even more faithful towards Brother. Despite Brother being such a manipulator, I would pretty much agree that they both deserved to be happy and just get married.

That was supposed to be the plan. She would become his bride and I would forget about my affections for her. Besides, she was more than just an object of romance for me.

She was already like family.

"Zen..." I felt a pat on my shoulder. It was Shirayuki. "Don't get too frantic. I'm sure Prince Izana did it in exchange for something."

Shirayuki was right! Brother would never give up on Lera unless there was a proper reason. Something was up and I feared Anri was more than involved with the sudden news.

"I'm pretty sure it's Anri." I spoke. "She probably threatened Brother with Lera's safety. It might be exaggeration but the only thing I've ever seen that has shaken Brother is Lera's cause."

"He'd do anything for her."

Kiki nodded in agreement. "And more than half of the higher nobles are on Anri's side."

"Apparently, they would rather have the first prince marry a citizen of Clarines rather than a fallen foreign princess." Mitsuhide added.

The situation was dire. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse...

"Prince Zen."

It was Obi at the balcony. He appeared to be in a haste unlike his normal appearance. "It's Miss Lera..."

Suddenly, my body tensed hearing Lera's name. "What happened!?" If anything worse happened to Lera, I would never be able to forgive myself!

"She has been taken out of her cell and is going by carriage towards Tanbarun..."